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Ukrainian opera singer Sergiy Anastasyev, who has appeared on phases throughout Europe, is on his approach to a efficiency in Bonn, Germany.
The warfare pressured him to maneuver there in early March. Since then, he has been counting the times till he can return dwelling to Kyiv.
On this explicit day, he’s getting ready to carry out with the choir of the College of Bonn. He joined the group to keep away from fascinated with the warfare and do what he loves most — singing.
They’ve already had their final rehearsal, and there is just one hour left till the present begins.
Russian missiles pressured Sergiy Anastasyev and his household to flee the capital Kyiv
Many associates misplaced within the warfare
Anastasyev exudes calm. He hardly ever will get nervous, at the least not when he is singing or speaking about music.
“Conflict is nothing new, and I’ve misplaced many associates lately,” Anastasyev instructed DW.
“Music has at all times been my refuge, it relaxes me and provides me hope. It helps maintain dangerous ideas at bay, despite the fact that my thoughts and coronary heart are at all times with those that are combating on the entrance line.”
This isn’t the primary time battle pressured Anastasyev to flee. In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and started backing pro-Kremlin separatists in jap Ukraine’s Donbas area, he needed to depart his hometown of Donetsk.
Historical past repeating itself
On the time, along with being a musician, Anastasyev additionally took up a political publish. This put him at even better threat, and he finally relocated to Kyiv. Nevertheless, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine and seize the capital.
For Anastasyev, it was historical past repeating itself.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree barring males aged between 18-60 from leaving and urging them to select up arms and defend the nation.
Anastasyev is over 60, so was allowed to go away the nation. He would have fought if he might. “I wished to serve within the warfare however due to my age, I could not,” he says.
Escaping from Russian bombs
“For the primary ten days, my household and I have been nonetheless in Kyiv,” he remembers. “However on the tenth day, our home was bombed thrice.” The assaults prompted him to take his spouse and two youngsters to Vinnytsia, southwest of Kyiv.
Anastasyev then got here to Germany alone, hoping his household would quickly be capable to be part of him.
For now, nonetheless, they continue to be in Vinnytsia.
For the reason that warfare began, Anastasyev has been unable to sing the track “Brothers’ grave” — a track about troopers who go to warfare and do not come again.
It was written by Russian singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky, whom Anastasyev has at all times admired. Sergiy says that when he hears this track, he sheds tears as he remembers associates who’ve been killed within the warfare.
65-year-old Sergiy Anastasyev has vowed to return to Ukraine quickly
Life as a refugee in Germany
“Adjusting to life in Germany was straightforward,” says Anastasyev. He has visited the nation to carry out a number of instances, and says he is made new associates.
“Due to the warfare there’s a large Ukrainian neighborhood right here in Bonn,” he factors out. “There are get-togethers the place we sing Ukrainian songs. That makes me really feel slightly bit extra at dwelling.”
On the night’s live performance, the viewers give the performers a standing ovation. For Anastasyev, it is some consolation. However what he actually needs is to return to Ukraine.
“I am going again dwelling quickly, whether or not the warfare ends or not,” he says.
This text has been translated from Portugese and Ukrainian
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